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E-Ventures snaps up News Corp. marketing chief from U.S.

Published on October 28, 1999.

LONDON--E-Ventures, the Internet investor owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and Japan's Softbank, has drafted its first U.K. head of marketing from the U.S.

Katie Walker, former VP-brand development at News Corp. in the U.S., has been appointed chief marketing officer. As well as spearheading marketing and communications, Ms. Walker will be launching U.S. companies with proven Internet track records in the U.K.

The company's first two launches are Internet retailer buy.com and online mortgage company eloan.

Ms. Walker is looking at a wide variety of agencies that will help to launch the company's brands. "We're not looking for one agency for all brands but to match the best agency across all disciplines to the(appropriate) brand."

Ms. Walker says it is too early to specify other brands to launch in the U.K. but points out that Softbank alone has more than 110 companies in its portfolio. "We are evaluating which ones would have more competitive advantages in the U.K. market."